Kitchener Rangers win their first OHL championship in 18 years

The Kitchener Rangers are Ontario Hockey League champions.

The team completed a clean sweep of the Colts in the finals, securing their title with a Game 4 win in Barrie on Tuesday night.

Luca Romano drew first blood for Kitchener with a goal 13 minutes and 38 seconds into the first period.

The Rangers were still fending off the Colts well into the second period when Gabriel Chiarot put away a shorthanded goal to give Kitchener a 2 – 0 lead.

Emil Hemming stormed back less than 15 seconds later to put Barrie on the board. Then, eight minutes into the third period, Eamon Edgar put another goal away for the Colts, knotting the score at 2-all.

Just over two minutes later, Carson Campbell let a shot fly, which was tipped past the Colts’ netminder, Ben Hrebik, by Christian Humphreys to inch Kitchener ahead and secure the win.

Sam O’Reilly put away some empty-net insurance in the dying seconds of the game, bringing the score to 4 - 2 and catapulting Kitchener fans to their feet.

“All Rangers fans are feeling great tonight,” said one at a Kitchener watch party. “What a great game and a huge win for the boys to sweep in the final.”

Night to remember

Players proudly hoisted the J. Ross Robertson Cup after the game, along with their coach, Jussi Ahokas, and other members of the Rangers organization.

“It’s unreal,” said Romano. “I don’t think it has sunk in yet, but it’s unreal with the group of guys we have here. So special. It’s a moment to remember the rest of my life.”

“[The Barrie Colts] are a good team, and they’re in the finals for a reason,” O’Reilly said. “They gave us a good battle. It was a good series.”

“It’s amazing when you’re having fun with these guys,” said forward Dylan Edwards. “It’s a special group we have. [Not] a day goes by where I haven’t thought about what it’s going to be like after. These guys are amazing. I love these boys for life.”

O’Reilly was named the OHL’s playoff MVP and presented with the Wayne Gretzky 99 Award. Over 18 games, he racked up 17 goals and 11 assists. O’Reilly is also the first player in OHL history to appear in three back-to-back championship series.

History-making moment

The Rangers last hoisted the J. Ross Robertson Cup in 2008.

The win also marks the team’s fifth championship title in franchise history.

The Kitchener Rangers will now represent the OHL at the Memorial Cup in Kelowna, B.C., which runs from May 21 to May 31. Their first game is on Friday, May 22 at 6 p.m. PST and 9 p.m. EST.